Biography:Claire Karekezi

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Claire Karekezi
Claire Karekezi.jpg
Neurosurgeon, Rwanda Military Hospital
Born04/07/1982
Butare, Rwanda
CitizenshipRwandese
Known forWomen in Neurosurgery

Claire Karekezi is a Neurosurgeon (born 1982) at the Rwanda Military Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda.[1] As the first woman neurosurgeon in Rwanda, and one of eight neurosurgeons serving a population of 13 million, Karekezi serves as an advocate for women in neurosurgery.[2] She has become an inspiration for young people pursuing neurosurgery, particularly young women.[3][4]

Karekezi specializes in neuro oncology and skull-base surgery, is the acting chairperson of the African Women in Neurosurgery (AWIN), Committee of the Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies (CAANS), and was elected as a member of the national council of the Rwanda Medical and Dental Council (RMDC) and the Secretary of the bureau for 2022-2026.[5]

Early life

Karekezi was born in Butare, Rwanda. Mr.  Karekezi Sr., her father, was a telecommunication engineer, and Mrs. Musine, her mother, was a high school teacher. Karekezi grew up in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, where she and her two older siblings received their early education.[4] She enjoyed science as a child, and after sixth grade in elementary school, she majored in mathematics and physics in high school. She met the admission criteria for medical school and studied general medicine in Butare at the University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, graduating as an MD in March 2009. During her time in Butare, Karekezi had her first exposure to neurosurgery, an experience that changed the course of her life.[6][7]

Education

The journey of Karekezi began at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda (UR), where she graduated with honors in Medicine in 2009. In 2007, Karekezi participated in an International Federation of Medical Student's Associations (IFMSA) professional exchange at the Linköping Teaching Hospital in Sweden. There, she met professor Jan Hillman, who had a significant impact on her decision to pursue a career in neurosurgery. In February 2009, following a brief stay in Sweden, Karekezi completed an elective program at the Department of Neurosurgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University. Both training experiences sparked her interest in Neurosurgery and granted her the confidence to pursue a career in the field.

In 2011, she was accepted into the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) Reference center in Rabat for the training of African neurosurgeons.[7][6][8][9] This training center was established in 2002 through a partnership between the WFNS and the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco. Karekezi completed her residency in neurosurgery in 2016.

After completing her residency in Morocco Karekezi pursued additional training with a focus on neuro oncology. In 2016, she spent three months at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts , as a recipient of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) International Visiting Surgeon Fellowship.[9] From 2017 to 2018, she completed a one-year clinical fellowship in neuro oncology and Skull Base Surgery [10] at Toronto Western Hospital.

After completing her fellowship in Toronto in August 2018, Karekezi returned to Rwanda as the country's first female neurosurgeon.[3] In her December 2018 TEDxEuston talk,[11] Karekezi painted a clearer picture of the general lack of access to surgery in Africa and the role she plays in training more future neurosurgeons to address this deficit. Karekezi stated, "I refuse to allow being African and a woman to be a limitation for me." She has raised awareness about the significance of neurosurgical education on the African continent, the need for more female neurosurgeons to combat stereotypes, and the severe shortage of neurosurgeons in the continent.[7][12][13]

Professional career and mission

Karekezi joined the Rwanda Military Hospital (RMH) in January 2019 as the hospital's first consultant neurosurgeon and the first neurosurgeon to perform neurosurgical procedures there. The establishment of a neurosurgery practice in the Rwandan public health sector has not been devoid of obstacles. Upon establishing her practice at RMH, she devoted the first few months of her tenure to establishing a functional neurosurgical unit by acquiring the necessary surgical equipment and personnel.[14]

Neurosurgery continues to be a male-dominated field, particularly in Africa, where women neurosurgeons account for less than 12% of all neurosurgeons. Karekezi is determined to enhance mentorship and support for her female colleagues and future generations. In 2019, she was elected as the chair of the African Women in Neurosurgery (AWIN) section of the Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies (CAANS).

Karekezi has led numerous projects on the history of women in neurosurgery and their current status on the African continent, highlighting the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions and academic neurosurgery, efforts to improve Neurosurgery Education and brain tumor treatment advances particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.[15] She continues to raise awareness about the need for more experienced female neurosurgeons in order to assist other young women in overcoming various obstacles inherent to the field.[16] She is also an advocate and inspiration for other young women who wish to pursue STEM fields (science, engineering, technology, and mathematics).[17][18]

Awards

  • Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Women In Neurosurgery (WINS) Greg Wilkins-Barrick Chair Visiting International Surgeon Award (2013).[19]
  • American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) International Visiting Surgeon Fellowship Award in Neurosurgery/neuro oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA (2016).[9]
  • Shield Maiden Women in Surgery Africa (WISA) Award in recognition of the arête in achieving career excellence in surgery, COSECSA, Kigali (2018).
  • AIMS-Next Einstein Initiative TTP Women in science ‘First Award 2019’ for being Rwanda’s First Female Neurosurgeon (2019).
  • Forbes Woman Africa Academic Excellence Award (2022).[20]
  • 2023 Chung International Lectureship in Neurosurgery, Northwestern Medicine, Department of Neurological Surgery, Chicago,
  • 2023 Leadership Award, Northwestern Medicine, Department of Neurological Surgery, Chicago, USA

Memberships

Dr. Karekezi is an active member of multiple local and international neurosurgical societies in order to raise awareness of neurosurgical needs in low- and middle-income countries, inspire young women, and be in a position to make change. These societies include, The American Association of Neurological surgeons (AANS), Congress of neurological Surgeons (CNS), The AANS/CNS section on tumors, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies-Women In Neurosurgery (WFNS-WIN) Committee, Women in Neurosurgery (WINS/USA), African Women in Neurosurgery (AWIN), The College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), The Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO), The North American Skull Base Society (NASBS), Women in Surgery AFRICA (WiSA), The African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), The Society for Neuro-Oncology/SSA (SNOSSA), The Rwanda Medical Association (RMA), Rwanda Surgical Society (RSS), and Rwanda Association of Neurological Surgeons (RANS).

Selected Publications

1. Karekezi C, El Khamlichi A. Takeoff of African Neurosurgery and the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Rabat Training Center Alumni. World Neurosurg. 2019 Jun; 126:576-580. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.03.141. Epub 2019 Mar 22. PMID: 30910756.

2. Karekezi C, El Khamlichi A, El Ouahabi A, El Abbadi N, Ahokpossi SA, Ahanogbe KMH, Berete I, Bouya SM, Coulibaly O, Dao I, Djoubairou BO, Doleagbenou AAK, Egu KP, Ekouele Mbaki HB, Kinata-Bambino SB, Habibou LM, Mousse AN, Ngamasata T, Ntalaja J, Onen J, Quenum K, Seylan D, Sogoba Y, Servadei F, Germano IM. The impact of African-trained neurosurgeons on sub-Saharan Africa. Neurosurg Focus. 2020 Mar 1 ;48(3):E4. doi: 10.3171/2019.12.FOCUS19853. PMID: 32114560.

3. Haizel-Cobbina J, Chen JW, Belete A, Dewan MC, Karekezi C. The landscape of neuro-oncology in East Africa: a review of published records. Childs Nerv Syst. 2021 Sep 1. doi: 10.1007/s00381-021-05344-z. Epub ahead of print. PMID:34468839.

4. Kedia S, Banson M, Cheserem B, Chaurasia B, Karekezi C, Uche E, Apuahe E, Balogun JA, Lucena LLN, Mbaye M, Opara O, Mahmoud MEE, Singh P, Chemate S, Bora SK, Oswari S, Totimeh T. Brain Tumor Programs in Asia and Africa: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Perspectives. World Neurosurg. 2023 Jul;175:e1041-e1048. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.04.067. Epub 2023 Apr 27. PubMed PMID: 37120142.

5. Kanmounye US, Karekezi C, Nyalundja AD, Awad AK, Laeke T, Balogun JA. Adult brain tumors in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review. Neuro Oncol. 2022 Oct 3;24(10):1799-1806. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noac098. Review. PubMed PMID: 35397473; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9527516.

6. Dada OE, Karekezi C, Mbangtang CB, Chellunga ES, Mbaye T, Konan L, Adeniran Bankole ND, Merci Kabulo KD, Hugues Dokponou YC, Ghomsi NC, Negida A, Nguembu S, Thango N, Cheserem B, Kamabu LK, Alalade AF, Esene I, Kanmounye US. State of Neurosurgical Education in Africa: A Narrative Review. World Neurosurg. 2021 Jul;151:172-181. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.05.086. Epub 2021 May 28. PMID: 34058355.

7. Barthélemy EJ, Diouf SA, Silva ACV, Abu-Bonsrah N, de Souza IAS, Kanmounye US, Gabriel P, Sarpong K, Nduom EK, Lartigue JW, Esene I, Karekezi C. Historical determinants of neurosurgical inequities in Africa and the African diaspora: A review and analysis of coloniality. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023;3(2):e0001550. doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0001550. eCollection 2023. Review. PubMed PMID: 36962931; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10021312.

8. Karekezi C, Thango N, Aliu-Ibrahim SA, Bechri H, You Broalet EM, Bougrine M, Cheserem JB, Mbaye M, Shabhay ZA, Tighilt N, Bakhti S, El Abbadi N. History of African women in neurosurgery. Neurosurg Focus. 2021 Mar;50(3): E15. doi: 10.3171/2020.12. FOCUS 20905. PMID: 33789234.

9. Marigil Sanchez M, Karekezi C, Almeida JP, Kalyvas A, Castro V, Velasquez C, Gentili F. Management of Giant Pituitary Adenomas: Role and Outcome of the Endoscopic Endonasal Surgical Approach. Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2019 Oct;30(4):433-444. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2019.05.004. Epub 2019 Jul 10. PMID:31471050.

10. Almeida JP, Sanchez MM, Karekezi C, Warsi N, Fernández-Gajardo R, Panwar J, Mansouri A, Suppiah S, Nassiri F, Nejad R, Kucharczyk W, Ridout R, Joaquim AF, Gentili F, Zadeh G. Pituitary Apoplexy: Results of Surgical and Conservative Management Clinical Series and Review of the Literature. World Neurosurg. 2019 Oct;130: e988-e999. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.07.055. Epub 2019 Jul 11. PMID:31302273.

Complete List of Published Work in Claire Karekezi’s Bibliography: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/claire.karekezi.2/bibliography/public/

References

  1. ↑ "HOME". https://rwandamilitaryhospital.rw/index.php?id=23. 
  2. ↑ "Congress of Neurological Surgeons: Claire Karekezi:Practicing Neurosurgery in Sub-Saharan Africa". https://www.cns.org/publications/congress-quarterly/congress-quarterly-detail/claire-karekezi-profile-practicing-neurosurgery-in. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "She's Rwanda's first and only female neurosurgeon. She chose Toronto to complete her training" (in en-CA). The Toronto Star. 2018-05-13. ISSN 0319-0781. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/05/13/shes-rwandas-first-and-only-female-neurosurgeon-she-chose-toronto-to-complete-her-training.html. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chu, Kathryn (2022-03-05). "Inspirational Women in Surgery: Dr Claire Karekezi, Neurosurgeon, Rwanda" (in en). World Journal of Surgery 46 (9): 2061–2062. doi:10.1007/s00268-022-06490-4. ISSN 1432-2323. PMID 35246713. 
  5. ↑ "The Bureau of the Rwanda Medical and Dental Council". http://rmdc.rw/spip.php?article4. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Karekezi, Claire; El Khamlichi, Abdeslam (July 2019). "Takeoff of African Neurosurgery and the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Rabat Training Center Alumni". World Neurosurgery 126: 576–580. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2019.03.141. ISSN 1878-8750. PMID 30910756. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2019.03.141. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Karekezi, Claire; Khamlichi, Abdeslam El; Ouahabi, Abdessamad El; Abbadi, Najia El; Ahokpossi, Semevo Alidegnon; Ahanogbe, Kodjo Mensah Hobli; Berete, Ibrahima; Bouya, Soueilem Mohamed et al. (2020-03-01). "The impact of African-trained neurosurgeons on sub-Saharan Africa" (in en-US). Neurosurgical Focus 48 (3): E4. doi:10.3171/2019.12.FOCUS19853. ISSN 1092-0684. PMID 32114560. https://thejns.org/focus/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/48/3/article-pE4.xml. 
  8. ↑ "Rabat Reference Center for Training Young African Neurosurgeons | World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies". https://www.wfns.org/training-centers/5/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "American Association of Neurological Surgeons" (in en). https://www.aans.org/. 
  10. ↑ "Fellowship in Neurooncology" (in en). https://surgery.utoronto.ca/fellowship-neurooncology. 
  11. ↑ "Joining the ranks of Neurosurgery: My Impossible Dream". 19 December 2018. https://www.ted.com/talks/claire_karekezi_joining_the_ranks_of_neurosurgery_my_impossible_dream. 
  12. ↑ (in en) AIMS Teacher Training Program, TTP Rwanda - Claire Karekezi, The first Rwandan female neurosurgeon | Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/AIMS-Teacher-Training-Program-TTP-Rwanda-102248341148499/videos/claire-karekezi-the-first-rwandan-female-neurosurgeon/3995487413797395/, retrieved 2022-05-18 
  13. ↑ Dada, Olaoluwa Ezekiel; Karekezi, Claire; Mbangtang, Celestin Bilong; Chellunga, Edwin Samwel; Mbaye, Thioub; Konan, Landry; Adeniran Bankole, Nourou Dine; Merci Kabulo, Katenga Dieu et al. (July 2021). "State of Neurosurgical Education in Africa: A Narrative Review" (in en). World Neurosurgery 151: 172–181. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2021.05.086. PMID 34058355. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1878875021007816. 
  14. ↑ "Claire Karekezi:Practicing Neurosurgery in Sub-Saharan Africa". 20 January 2020. https://www.cns.org/publications/cns-spotlight-archives/claire-karekezi-profile-practicing-neurosurgery-in. 
  15. ↑ Karekezi, Claire; Thango, Nqobile; Aliu-Ibrahim, Salamat Ahuoiza; Bechri, Hajar; You Broalet, Espérance Maman; Bougrine, Mouna; Cheserem, Jebet Beverly; Mbaye, Maguette et al. (March 2021). "History of African women in neurosurgery". Neurosurgical Focus 50 (3): E15. doi:10.3171/2020.12.FOCUS20905. ISSN 1092-0684. PMID 33789234. https://thejns.org/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/50/3/article-pE15.xml. 
  16. ↑ Sadler, Samantha J.; Yuki Ip, Ho Kei; Kim, Eliana; Karekezi, Claire; Robertson, Faith C. (March 2021). "Investing in the future: a call for strategies to empower and expand representation of women in neurosurgery worldwide". Neurosurgical Focus 50 (3): E8. doi:10.3171/2020.12.FOCUS20963. ISSN 1092-0684. PMID 33789242. https://thejns.org/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/50/3/article-pE8.xml. 
  17. ↑ Keshmiri, Firouzeh; Bloor, Ann; Wellenstein, Mary Jo (2006). "Wisconsin And Hawaii Wit Partnership To Encourage Women And Girls In Rural Areas To Pursue Stem Fields". 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings (ASEE Conferences): 11.1453.1–11.1453.8. doi:10.18260/1-2--938. http://dx.doi.org/10.18260/1-2--938. 
  18. ↑ (in sw) UNICEF Rwanda - Women in STEM: Claire Karekezi | Facebook, https://sw-ke.facebook.com/unicefrw/videos/women-in-stem-claire-karekezi/920298841793179/, retrieved 2022-05-18 
  19. ↑ "AANS Neurosurgeon – International Initiatives: Launching the WINS/Greg Wilkins-Barrick Chair Visiting International Surgeon Award". http://v1archives.aansneurosurgeon.org/8/women-in-neurosurgery-international-initiatives/. 
  20. ↑ "Forbes Woman Africa. The @Forbeswomanafri Academic Excellence Award goes to Dr. @clairekarekezi, Chair of the African Women in Neurosurgery (AWIN). Congratulations Dr. Karekezi!" (in en). https://twitter.com/forbeswomanafri/status/1501922447083421697. 

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